Saint Joseph Parish Needham History The Early Years When researching and writing an Mr. Newell asked to have a Mass offered institutional history, it is necessary to look for the benefit of his maid and a few other at the institution within the context of the Catholics living in Needham at the time. community it serves and the impact it has The population of Needham in 1850 was had on other institutions in which it is 1,944 and this included West Needham necessarily involved. In this regard, when (Wellesley). doing a history of Saint Joseph Parish, one must look at the Catholic population Beginning in the 1850’s, Needham was residing in Needham, the town of Needham treated as a mission and served by various itself, and to some extent the Archdiocese of parishes from Roxbury, Natick, Saxonville Boston. So rather than just a list of and Newton Upper Falls. It was during this buildings, pastors, and priests, this history time as a mission of Mary Immaculate of will attempt to show how St Joseph Parish Lourdes in Newton Upper Falls, that the has served its parishioners as well as been first Catholic Church building was impacted by and made an impact on the established in Needham. In 1888, the greater Needham community. Reverend Martin O’Brien, pastor of Mary Immaculate, was able to purchase the It has long been told that Needham’s first former Congregational chapel on the aptly Catholic Mass was celebrated on Christmas named Chapel Street. It was purchased Day, 1850. It was celebrated at the from Edward Cummings of Dover for the Nehoiden Street home of Andrew Newell sum of $1000. Father O’Brien’s successor at which later became known as the Mary Immaculate, the Reverend Timothy J. McCracken farm. Danahy, celebrated the first Mass at the chapel on Christmas Day, 1890. Home of the Newell family The former Congregational Chapel on Chapel St 1 Archbishop Williams returned to dedicate the completed church on May 20, 1894. The Reverend George J. Patterson of Abington celebrated the Mass and the Reverend Edward H. Welch, S.J. preached. A large section of the Symphony Orchestra, a famous organist, and a choir took part in the ceremony. A special train brought Reverend Timothy J. Danahy guests from Boston and $1500 was collected. With Archbishop Williams It soon became apparent that the chapel present, Father Danahy took the space was inadequate and on April 18, 1891 opportunity to have 39 children and three a lot on the northeast corner of May Street adults confirmed. Father Danahy and the and Highland Avenue was purchased from Archbishop then traveled to the Upper Falls James MacKintosh for the sum of $2600. where 65 more Confirmations took place. This property had previously been owned by a Unitarian Church women’s group. John Finneran and others, as children, vividly remember Father Danahy. “He came The energetic Father Danahy immediately up from Mary Immaculate in Newton Upper set out to build a new church on the site. Falls in a carriage, sometimes on horseback. The cornerstone was laid on September 20, The road was sandy and he usually arrived 1891, with Archbishop John Jay Williams in a cloud of dust. In the carriage, he often presiding and the Reverend Dennis had his two large dogs sitting beside him. O’Callaghan, pastor of Saint Augustine’s in He drove around the church to the shed, South Boston, as preacher. The lower brick tied up the horse, and with a whip in his section of the church was used while hand, entered the church. He always construction of the upper wooden section inquired how many people were going to continued. receive communion. One day he did not see my hand go up and when I went up for communion he said sharply and loudly, ‘You can only have a half.’” Joe Wagner remembers the dogs. “Their names were Winter and Easter. During Mass they usually sat in the sanctuary and stared at us. Sometimes, they would come out where we were and Father Danahy would shout, ‘Don’t be afraid of the dogs. They protect the sacred host and also me, as we come here from Newton.’” In the 100th Wooden church dedicated in 1894 2 Anniversary Book of Mary Immaculate of walls, the tower and the front part of the Lourdes parish, Father Danahy is described building had not burned in the fire. A as “a dynamic, strong-willed, and colorful parishioner remembers, “My brother was individual.” an altar boy. They were called over to the church to help scrape cement off bricks, so Father Danahy’s church served Needham they could be used again.” Catholics until it was suddenly destroyed by fire in the middle of the night, in February It was not long before the lower floor was 1913. The Needham Chronicle reported reconstructed and the congregation could that “the splendid St. Joseph’s (Catholic) return from Town Hall. The lower floor church was ruined beyond repair by a served as an all-purpose space until the stubborn interior fire that probably upper floor was completed. On May 20, originated from defective electric light 1914, the rebuilt church was dedicated, wires. The walls still stand, with the tower twenty years after the dedication of the and the gold cross, but so completely is the original building. wreck that what is left will have to be torn down.” Father Danahy was early on the scene, and though he watched the destruction of his own work, he was perhaps the calmest and most self- possessed man there. “Surely it will be rebuilt,” he said in answer to our inquiry, “It will cost twice as much as it originally did (some $36,000) and it will be impossible to obtain materials such as were used at first, but my people will be generous, and the church will soon again be ready.” The writer of the newspaper article gave this opinion, “Father Danahy is averse to personal publicity, but we venture to say that he was so courageous a leader the Catholics of Rebuilt church dedicated in 1914 Needham cannot fail to heartily approach Father Danahy also established the Holy their task.” Name Society and the Knights of Columbus Although many other Needham churches in the parish. offered their facilities, Fr. Danahy accepted For several years there was a desire from the Selectmen’s offer to use the Town Hall. those in Needham to become their own Reconstruction of the church began after parish. Father Danahy was hesitant to give the ruined part was cleared away by up this church he had built. One reason parishioners and helpful townspeople. The 3 appears to be St. Joseph’s generosity. In this Almost two years went by before St. regard, Cardinal O’Connell’s secretary wrote Joseph’s officially became a Canonical to Father Danahy and requested that he parish in April 1917. send separate annual reports for Mary The Cardinal’s secretary wrote to Father Immaculate and St. Joseph. On June 7, Danahy on April 10, 1917 saying a pastor 1915, the Cardinal wrote to Father Danahy will be appointed shortly for St. Joseph in on the matter, “The time has now come Needham. Two weeks later, Cardinal when I must again take up the question of O’Connell sent a notice to Father Danahy of setting apart Needham as a separate parish. the appointment of Reverend Henry A. Your indebtedness is sufficiently reduced Walsh of South Natick as pastor, effective that there is no longer the necessity you May 1, 1917. formerly felt of having the assistance of the Needham Parish.” Reverend Henry A. Walsh (1917 – 1923) The Reverend Henry A. Walsh was appointed the first pastor of the new parish on May 1. He came to Needham from South Natick where he had been pastor for nine years. Father Walsh lived at 888 Highland Avenue and one of his first objectives was to build a rectory. He received permission from the Cardinal to take a mortgage on the church property of $3000 in order to purchase the Tucker property. Rectory On June 13, 1917, in a letter to the construction had to be abandoned for three Cardinal’s office, Father Walsh stated, “The years because the church, which had been church building presents a very serious rebuilt after the fire, was determined to be condition of affairs. Faulty construction unsafe and needed immediate attention. renders it unsafe for occupancy. Mr. Charles The architect for the rebuilding of the Logue and Mr. Joseph McGiness decided church had complained about the condition last evening that it should be closed at once of the roof as it was left by the contractor. and that I would be doing a great wrong if I His protest had resulted in a lawsuit. Now did not do so. On the strength of their word he reported to the Cardinal that “the walls I locked the doors this morning. I would be were not in a true and plumbed condition pleased to know what arrangements His and should be remedied.” Eminence might allow me for Sunday. I 4 think it’s quite likely that I can secure the Today you have your reward in a doubly use of the Town Hall.” beautiful church.” The Cardinal fully agreed with the necessity Difficulties in the reconstruction of the to close the church and repairs began at church building were not the only once. A month later, Father Walsh difficulties Father Walsh underwent in his reported to the Cardinal that some of the first two years as pastor.